Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘Moondust’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Moondust’ particularly characterized by flowers which are light yellow with red/purple spots and stripes: the labellum is purple with some yellow; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Phalaenopsishybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Moondust’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceaefamily, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Moondust’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceousperennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable forcultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantlyepiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the MalayArchipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy,oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodialgrowth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. Theleaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in thehorticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for theflorist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home orinteriorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often withmany showy flowers which open in succession beginning with thelowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; thelateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, isthree-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flowersegments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellowand red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexualpropagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots whichfrequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. Theresulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be plantedin a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Moondust’ is a product of a controlled breedingprogram conducted by the inventors, René Schoone, in Strengweg,Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was todevelop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by itsattractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissueculture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging andshipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Moondust’ originated from a cross made by theinventor in 1999 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female orseed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Fortune Buddha’,unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivardesignated ‘Taipei Gold’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Moondust’was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in2006 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culture(mericloning) was first performed in July, 2007 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk,The Netherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmlyfixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction. The new cultivar asexually reproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘Moondust’, which in combinationdistinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. flowers which are light yellow with red/purple spots and        stripes; the labellum is purple with some yellow;    -   2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;    -   3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using        tissue culture;    -   4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and    -   5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.

In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Moondust’, the femaleparent ‘Fortune Buddha’ has yellow flowers with many red/purple spotsand stripes, the male parent ‘Taipei Gold’ has yellow/green coloredflowers with a white/pink mark in the center, whereas the flowers of‘Moondust’ are light yellow with at the center some red/purple spots andstripes.

Presently, the most similar cultivars to the claimed variety are theparental cultivars, to which a comparison has been provided above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Phalaenopsis ‘Moondust’ showing the colors as true as is reasonablypossible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of‘Moondust’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of‘Moondust’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical flower of ‘Moondust’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Moondust’

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Moondust’ has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar mayvary with variations in environment such as temperature, lightintensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of theplant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Moondust’ asgrown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, underconditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercialpractice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Moondust’is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phaseof ‘Moondust’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the dayand 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Moondust’ are a minimumof 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer withlevel of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growthof ‘Moondust’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditionsat approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. Theage of the ‘Moondust’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrida.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated            ‘Fortune Buddha’, unpatented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated            ‘Taipei Gold’, unpatented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Tissue culture (mericloning).        -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 4 mm-8            mm wide and green/yellow in color (RHS 146C); freely            branching. It takes 12 weeks for plants growing in tissue            culture to initiate roots.-   Plant:    -   -   Size at maturity.—Height (from bottom of pot to top of            highest flower): about 40 to 45 cm. Spread: about 35 to 43            cm.        -   Growth habit.—Small; green leaves (RHS 139A) and relatively            normal raceme.        -   Vigor.—Moderate.        -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks            2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after            a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of            about 19° C. about 1 to 2 racemes with flowers appear.-   Foliage:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 6 to 8 leaves are produced before            flowering.        -   Arrangement and attachment.—Half up/horizontal and on two            sides.        -   Overall shape of leaf.—Oval, tip is blunt and asymmetric.        -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth and leathery.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Mature leaf length.—About 16 to 21 cm.        -   Mature leaf width.—About 9 to 11 cm.        -   Mature leaf thickness.—About 2 mm.        -   Mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 139A; under surface:            RHS 137B.        -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel. Color of midvein: upper            surface: RHs 147A; under surface: RHS 139B.-   Raceme:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 1 to 2.        -   Number of flowers per raceme.—About 10 to 15.        -   Length.—About 36 to 40 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 4 to 6 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Texture.—Glabrous and smooth.        -   Color.—Green (RHS 137B).        -   Internode.—Length: about 23 to 30 mm.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, racemose            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Buds.—Height (from base to tip): about 15 to 20 mm. Diameter            (at midpoint): about 10 to 15 mm. Shape: egg-shaped. Color:            yellow/green (RHS 144B). Orientation: same as flowers            (forward facing).        -   Flowering time.—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that            has not undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a            temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after            a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 1 to            2 racemes appear with flower buds and flowers. First flowers            can be expected approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a            plant with a leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.        -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months;            lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed.        -   Fragrance.—Darker/younger flowers no fragrance;            lighter/older flowers fragrance.        -   Flower.—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3            days after petal and sepal separation. Orientation at            opening: slanted upward and outward. Shape: Typical shape of            Phalaenopsis orchid; see FIG. 2. Size (of single bloom):            Height: about 45 to 55 mm. Diameter: about 50 to 55 mm.            Quantity and arrangement: three petals and three sepals that            are trimerous, overlapping and arranged in 2 whorls. Petals            are more pronounced than sepals.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Inner whorl comprises 3 petals: 2            lateral petals and labellum. 2 lateral petals: Overall            shape: little bit triangular/broadly ovate and weakly            cupped. Apex: oval. Margin: entire and weakly undulate.            Base: broadly ovate. Length: about 22 to 27 mm. Width: about            22 to 28 mm. Texture: Upper surface: smooth and satiny.            Under surface: smooth and satiny. Color (when fully opened):            Main color is yellow (RHS 4D) (The younger/newer flowers are            green/yellow (RHS 1 C), mainly at the base some red/purple            spots and stripes (RHS N74B). Under surface: older flower is            white (RHS 155A), younger flower is green/yellow (RHS 1C).            Labellum: Overall shape: 3-lobed with 2 prominent            callosities at central junction of the lateral lobes and            base of the midlobe. Lateral lobes of labellum fold upward            about the column; the midlobe extends forward and is            terminated by 2 stubs appendages at the apex. Lateral lobes            of the labellum are ovate in shape while the midlobe is            triangular with a bump and a rib on it. Margin: entire and            weakly undulate. Length: about 19 mm. Width (not flattened):            about 15 mm. Depth of tube (made from lateral lobes): about            8 mm. Texture: Upper & under surface: smooth and satiny.            Color (when fully opened): Main color of the Mid lobe and            the lateral lobes is purple (RHS N78B); mid lobe has            red/purple spots (RHS 60B). At the base yellow (RHS 7A).            Also a yellow line in the center and yellow thin edges (RHS            7A). Lateral lobes: lower edge is red/purple (RHS 60B) and            the rest is yellow (RHS 6C) with red/purple spots and            stripes (RHS 59A). Cirrhi: two small points. Color: yellow            (RHS 5B). Pestle (Callosities): Length: about 4 mm. Width            (not flattened): about 5 mm. Height: about 5 mm. Color:            yellow (RHS 7A) with red/purple spots and stripes (RHS 59A).        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals. Overall            shape: elliptical and weakly cupped; v-shaped hole on top of            dorsal sepals. Length: about 25 to 33 mm. Width: about 20 to            22 mm. Texture: Upper & under surface: smooth and satiny.            Color (when fully opened): young flower upper surface:            green/yellow (RHS 1 C) with red/purple spots & stripes            (lateral sepal RHS 60A, dorsal sepal RHS N74B). Under            surface is green/yellow (RHS 1 C). Older flower upper            surface: yellow (RHS 4D) with red/purple spots & stripes            (lateral sepal RHS 60A, dorsal sepal RHS N74B). Under            surface is yellow (RHS 4D).        -   Pedicel.—Length: about 23 to 30 mm. Diameter: about 3 mm.            Texture: glabrous and smooth.        -   Color.—Base is green (RHS 136B), middle is yellow/green (RHs            147C) and close to flower is (RHS 75B).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a            single, short structure called the column, possessing one            terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia,            which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located            under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior            with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed.        -   Column.—Length: about 8 mm. Diameter: about 5 mm. Color:            white (RHS NN155C).        -   Pollinia.—Quantity: Two. Size: about 1 mm. Color: orange            (RHS 24A).        -   Ovary.—Length: about 4 mm. Diameter: about 5 mm. Color:            white (RHS NN155C).-   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.    and to a high temperature about 30° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named‘Moondust’, as illustrated and described herein.